Amman, Beirut: The foreign ministers of Syria and Iraq met in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss ways to tackle militant groups in their countries and Iraq called for greater international cooperation to combat the violence, Syrian state media said.
The government in Baghdad, together with Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, have been important allies for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Iraqi militias have fought on Al Assad’s side against the insurgency spearheaded by Islamists.
Iraq’s armed forces are also the main partner on the ground for a US-led coalition bombing Daesh terrorists in Iraq but Washington and other Western governments have dismissed the idea of cooperating directly with Syria in the same fight.
Tuesday’s high-level discussions “focused on the fight against terrorism and common dangers that threaten our countries,” Syrian state television said, citing a joint news conference by the foreign ministers at Damascus airport. It did not specify which groups the discussions were referring to.
Iraq has acted as a go-between for information about the US-led strikes Daesh in both countries.
Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ebrahim Al Jaafari was also due to meet Al Assad, Al Jaafari’s office said earlier on Tuesday. His visit comes ahead of an Arab League meeting in Egypt this weekend.
Syria’s seat has been left vacant since its membership was suspended in November 2011 after the government’s crackdown on protests.
“Terrorism is not just a danger that faces both countries but one that will affect all countries if there is not cooperation,” Al Jaafari said, according to Syria’s state news channel.
His Syrian counterpart Walid Mua’allem said the two countries “stand in the same trench against terrorism,” state news agency SANA said.
In September Iraq’s national security adviser briefed Al Assad on efforts to counter Daesh, in the first such meeting since the United States launched air strikes on the group in Iraq. Territory held by Daesh in Syria includes most of Deir Al Zor province, which borders Iraq.
Al Assad said last month that third parties including Iraq were conveying information to Damascus about the US-led campaign of air strikes against Daesh in Syria.
